Ironing machine



R. w. FOLEY IRONING MACHINE Aug. 14, 1934.

Filed Jul'y 30 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet l` Wma-ss www Armazvs rs Aug. 14, 1934. w FOLEY 1,970,511

IRONING MACHINE v Filed July 30 1931 v5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INI/EMDR WIJ-N555 5F I Amm/mw Aug. 14, 1934.

` R. w. FOLEY 1,970,511

IRONING MACHINE Filed July 30 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3` MMM' AJTUHNEYS Aug. 14,1934. R. w. FOLEY n 1,970,511

IRONING MACHINE Filed Ju1y 30. 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 E- lg /l I i 33 Afr 2 Armanrns Whvsss Aug- 14, 1934. R. w. FOLEY 1,970,511

IRONING MACHINE l Filed July 30, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 mlllll" Armavm Patented Ang, 14

HRNING MACHINE Raymond W. Foley, Dunkirk, N. Y., assgnor to Easy Washing Machine Corporation, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware .applicationV `ully 30, 1931, Serial No. 554,016

l1 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved ironer.

The main object of my invention is to provide an ironer in which the movement of the shoe to- Wards and from the roll is controlled electrically.-

Another object is to provide an ironer of such a design that the shoe will be in contact with the roll only when the electrical controlling means is energized, and in which the shoe will automatically move away from the roll when the controlling means is deenergized.

Other objects and advantages relate to the size, shape and arrangement of parts, all as will more fully appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawin'gs in whichz- Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved ironer.

` Figure 2 is a section, partially in full, on line 2-2 of Figure 7.

Figure 3 i's a section on line 3-3 of Figure 6.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4 4 of Figure 7'.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5 5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a section on line 6 6 of Figure-1.

Figure 7 is a section on line 7 7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a section on line 9-9 of Figure 6.

Figure 10 is a section on line 10-10 of Figure9.

Figure 11 is a section on line 11-11 of Figure 8.

Figure 12 is a section on line 12-12 of Figure 6.

Figure 13 is a section on line 13-13 of Figure 6.

Figure 14 is a section on line 14-14 of Figure 12.

Figure 15 is a face view of the controlling handle and clutch for the roll.

-Figure 16 is a section on line 16-16 of Figure 15.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown an ironing machine comprising a gear casing 1 having adjacent its upper end a laterally extending tubular boss 2, and having adjacent its lower end, a second laterally extending tubular boss 3.

A supporting tube 4 has one end rigidly secured in boss 2 with its outer end extending laterally therefrom.

`A shaft 5 has its inner end journaled in a ball bearing 6 secured in the inner end of boss 2, and has its outer end journaled in a bearing '7 secured in the outer end of supporting tube 4.

Shaft 5 extends outwardly through and beyond the outer end of tube 4. y

A'tubular ironing roll 8 has secured in its inner end, as perhaps may best be seen from Figure 6, an annular collar 9 braced in position by a circular plate 10.

The collar 9 has on its inner face a race 11" between which and the outer surface of boss 2 is interposed an annular roll bearing 12.

'I'he outer end of roll 8, see Figure 2, has se'- cured to the inner face thereof, a circular plate 13. Plate 13 has secured to its inner face'as by bolts 14, a tubular member 15 through which shaft 5 extends and to which shaft 5 is secured for simultaneous rotary motion as by a key 16.

The outer end of shaft 5 extends through plate 65 13 and is threaded to co-act with a nut 1'7 to se, cure roll 8 against axial displacement in relation to shaft 5.

Referring to Figures 2, 6 and l1, a tubular sup-v port 18 has one end rigidly secured in boss 3, and 70 has its other end secured in a supporting bracket 19, the base of which is in the same plane as the -bottom of casing 1.

'bearing 22 secured in thev outer end of tube 18.

The construction of the shoe support and its interconnected elements are more particularly described in a patent to Hermann Hill, No. 1,825,350 and since it constitutes no part of my invention, neednot be more particularly described herein, it being suicient to say that the shaft 20 is operably connected to the ironer shoe 33.

On the lower rear face of casing 1 is provided a motor housing 38 in which is' an electric motor 39 indicated in broken lines o-n Figure 7.

The armature shaft 40 of motor 39 is secured as by a coupling 41 to the end of a shaft 42 which has one end journaled in a ball bearing 43 secured in casing l, and its opposite end journaled in a ball bearing 44 also lsecured in casing 1. Shaft 42 carries a worm 45.

Referring to Figure 6, a shaft 46 is positioned in housing l in parallel relation to shafts 5 and 20, and has its outer end journaled in a ball bearing 47 secured in the outer end of casing 1, and has its inner end journaled in a ball bearing 48 secured in the inner side of casing.

A spur gear 49 is rotatably mounted on shaft 46 and is provided with oppositely extending hubs one of said hubs being journaled in a ball bearing 55.

On the outer end of spur gear 49 is mounted 110 a worm gear l50 secured to spur gear 49, as by a key 51. Worm gear 50 is in mesh with worm 45. c Worm gear 50 has an outwardly extending hub 52 between which and shaft 46 is interposed a ball bearing 53. AOn the inner hub of spur gear 49 is secured, as by a key 53', a clutch member 54.

A clutch and cam member 56 is rigidly iixed, as

by a press fit, upon shaft 46 and this shaft 46 has its inner end located in ball bearing 48, and its outer end in ball bearing '47, so that the clutch and cam member 56 will rotate on ball bearings 48 and 47 through shaft 46 as a medium.

The outer end of member 56 has pivotally mounted thereon, as by a pivot pin 57 (see Figure 3), a dog 58 adapted to engage a slot 59 in clutch member 54.

Dog 58 carries an inwardly extending pin 60 in engagement with a coil spring 61 (see Figure 12) adapted to move dog 58 about its pivot 57 to bring it into engagement with a slot 59 in clutch member 54.

Adjacent the inner face of dog 58 and pivotally vmounted on pivot pin 57 is a plate 61 having an outwardly extending portion 62 (see Figure 5) in spaced relation to the end of dog 58. Such end of dog 58 is provided with an aperture 63 in which is positioned a coil spring 64.

A ball 65l is interposed between the spring 64, and the end 62 of plate 61'.

My novel means for controlling the operation of the clutch and cam member 56 consists of a bifurcated member 66 (see Figure 13) which has secured toits lower end a depending shaft 67 pivotally mounted in a bearing 68 secured in housing 1.

Beneath bearing 68 is secured to shaft 67, as by a pin 67', a collar 68 to hold member 66 from vertical displacement.

Member 66 is adapted to be rocked about its pivot to alternately bring one or the other of its opposed ends 69 or 70 into the path of movement of plate 61. When either of the ends 69 or 70 is in the path of movement of plate 61', the end 62 of plate 61 will contact with such end which will cause the end 62 of plate 61' to depress spring 64 to permit plate 61' to contact with dog 58 to Istop the movement of dog 58 which will cause it to be moved out from the slot 5,9 in clutch member 54 inasmuch as clutch member 54 will continue to rotate.

After dog 58 has moved from the slot 59, the spring 64 will expand to move dog 58 a slightly farther distance so that there may be no danger of its contacting with the clutch member 54 as the latter continues to rotate.

Referring to Figure 8, the member 56 has on one end a circular portion 71 eccentrically mounted in relation to the axis of the shaft 46. A ring 72 (see Figure 12) encircles member 71 and is provided with a downwardly extending split yoke 73 through which extends a pivot pin 74.

A ball bearing 75 has its inner race mounted on pin 74 and has its outer race extending through aslot in ring 72 and into contact with the periphery of member 71.

Member 71` has a flattened portion at -afor a purpose hereinafter to be described.

A crank arm 76 has a bifurcated end pivotally supporting pin 74 and has its other end secured, as by a key 77 and a set screw 78, to the inner end of shaft 20.

When the dog 58 is in clutching relation with the clutch member 54, the circular portion 71 on member 56 will rotate, and it being eccentrically mounted with relation to the axis of the shaft 46,

` end of it will cause the end of crank 76 which is mounted on the ring 72, to be moved upwardly and downwardly, and this movement will in turn rock shaft 20 to carry shoe 33 towardsand from roll 8.

The movement of roll 8 is controlled by means of the mechanism about to be described. (See Figures 4, 6, 9 and 12.)

The inner end 79 of shaft 5 is reduced in size to form a shoulder 80.

A spur gear 81 is rotatably mounted on the reduced end 79 of shaft 5 with one face abutting the shoulder 80 and is secured in position -on shaft 5 by means of a nut 82 which is in threaded engagement with the end of shaft 5.

The inner face of gear 81 carries a circular clutch member 83 having circumferentially spaced jaws preferably tapered.

A second clutch member 84 provided with jaws preferably tapered adapted toengage clutch member 83, is slidably mounted on shaft 5 and is keyed thereto, as by a key 85.

For the purpose of moving clutch member 84 into and out of engagement with clutch member 83, I provide a U-shaped shifting member 86 having one of its lower ends pivotally mounted in casing 1, as by a pivot pin 87, and having its other end pivotally mounted in casing 1, as by a pivot pin 88.

One end of member-86 extends downwardly below the pivot 88 and is provided on its inner face with a rotatably mounted roller 89 for a purposev hereinafter to be described.

On the upper end of member 86 are provided opposed spaced inwardly extending rollers 90 and 91 which are positioned between the rear face of the jawed end 92 of clutch member 84, and an annular rim 93 formed on the rear end of clutch member 84.

The movement of member 86 about its pivots 87 and 88 will cause the rollers 90 and 91 to contact either with the rim 93 to move the clutch member 84 out of engagement with the clutch member 83, or they will contact with the rear face of the jawed end 92 to move clutch member 84 intoengagement with clutch member 83.

A spiral spring 94 (see Figure 14) has one end encircling a post 95 secured on casing 1, and has the other end encircling a post 96 positioned on shifting member 86 to normally urge clutch member 84 towards and into engagement with clutch member 83.

For the purpose of moving member 86 about its pivots to disengage clutch member 84 from clutch member 83, I provide in housing 1 (see Figures 12, 14, 15 and 16 a rotatably mounted shaft 97 carrying on its inner end a cam member 98 adapted to contact with member 86 above the pivot 87 to move such member 86 about its pivots and into contact with the rim 93 on clutch member 84.

Shaft 97 extends outwardly from casing 1 and carries on its outer end a lever or handle 99 to provide a convenient means for manually rocking shaft 97.

Handle 99 (Figures 15 and 16) carries a slidably `to receive the inner end of pin 100 when the same is in registration therewith, and such pin 100 isl pressed. inwardly against the action of spring 101. The relation of parts is such that when pin ico j 100 is in registration with aperture 103, cam member 98 will have moved member 86 about its pivots to carry clutch member 84 out of registration with clutch member 83.

Spring 94 will continue to exert pressure against member 86 and therefore against cam 98, and will cause shaft 97 to berotated to carry handle 99 to its normal position whenever the pin 100 is moved outwardly from aperture 103. This must be done manually because of the fact that the pressure exerted by spring 94 on the parts just described will cause pin 100 to be held in aperture 103 by friction as the spring 101 which urges shaft 100 outwardly is a comparatively light spring as compared to the spring 94.

When pin 100 is in aperture 103 and it is desired to return the parts to the normal position, it is only necessary to touch the endfof handle 99 with sufficient force to relieve .pin 100 from any tension from spring 94, and when this is done, Athe pin 100 will be moved outwardly from aperture 103 through the action of spring 101, and when the handle 99 is thus released, it will be returned to its normal position through the action of spring 94.

In Figure 16, I have shown in heavy lines the relation of parts when pin 100 is positioned in aperture 103, and I have indicated in dotted lines the position of pin 100 when the same has been allowed to move outwardly out of registration with aperture 103.

For the purpose of providing an automatic means whereby member 86 may be moved about its pivots to carry clutch member 84 out of engage'ment with'clutch member 83 to stop rotation of roll 8 when the shoe 33 has been moved away from the roll 8, I provide on member 56 an outwardly extending arm 104 having a cam surface 105 adapted, when member 56 is rotated, to contact with roller 89 carried on member 86 to force the lower end of member 86 forwardly to move such member 86 about its pivots, which movement will cause clutch member 84 to be carried out of engagement with clutch member 83.

For the purpose of controlling the movement of the member 66 which controls the operation of the clutch composed of members 54 and 58, I'provide an electric magnetic means shown in Figures 9, 10 and 13.

There is secured in casing 1, an electric magnet 107 which is connected to a source of potential not shown, preferably by a foot operated switch 108, which is urged by spring 109 to the open position whenever the operator removes his foot from the switch 108,'- which wiring connection I haveV shown diagrammatically on Figure 10.

An armature 110 for the magnet 107 has its lower end pivotally mounted, as by a pin 111, in casing 1, and has its upper end connected by a link 112 to 'a crank 113 which extends outwardly from the lower end of shaft 67.

A spring 114 has one end secured to crank 113 and has its other end secured to casing 1 to normally urge member 66 about its pivot to carry its end 69 into the path of movement of dog 58.

When the switch 108 is closed to magnetize the magnet 107, magnet 10,7 will attract armature 110 to cause the same to move about its pivot 111 to move crank 113 against the action of spring 114 to cause member 66 to move about its pivot to carry end 69 out of the path of movement of dog 58 and to carry the end 70 into the path Aof movement` of dog 58.

The relation of parts is such that when the end of member 66 is in the path of movement of dcg 58 to hold it out of clutching engagement with the clutch member 54, the member 56 will be in such a position that the circular member 71 carried thereon will be in the position shown in dotted lines on Figure 8 with the crank 76 in the lowered position, and with the shoe 33 in pressure contact with the roll 8.

With the parts in this position, the flat portion -a-' of the cam member 71 will be in the bottom position, and will be in opposed relation to the ball bearing 75. In this position, the relationship of parts is such that a slight clearance exists between the ball bearing` and the cam member 71 so that the thrust from the shoe 33 through the various parts which connect it to the ring 72 will be carried solely by such ring 72 and not in any degree by the ball bearing 75.

When the shoe is moved away from the roll, the cam surface 105 will contact with the roller 89011 the member 86 and the clutch member 84 will be carried out of clutching relation with the clutch member 85 and the roll 8 will come to rest.

When it is desired to perform an ironing operation, the motor 39 being connected to a source of potential, the switch 108 is closed by the operator. This, as just described, will cause member 66 to move about its pivot to move its end 69 out of engagement with dog 58 and dog 58 will then engage clutch member 54 to cause the rotation of member 56.

The rotation of member 56 will cause the circular cam member 71 carried by it to move the end of crank 76 downwardly to rock shaft 20 and bring shoe 33 into pressure relation with roll 8.

This operation is accomplished during a half 110 revolution of member 56, and at the end of such half revolution. of member 56, the dog 58 will contact with the end 70 of member 56 which is held in the path of movement of dog 58 by the magnet 107.

The clutching relation between dog 58 and member 56 will be broken and the shoe 33 will remain in pressure contact with the roll 8. The rotary movement of member 56 just described will have carried cam surface 105 outof contact 120 with the roller 89 on the lower end of member 86, and such member 86 will have been moved about its pivots through the action of spring 94 to move clutch member 84 into clutching engagement with clutch member 83 to cause the rotation of roll 8. 125

Rotation of roll 8 with the parts in this position is accomplished because of the fact that the gear v8l on the shaft 5 is in mesh with gear 49, which in turn, is keyed to worm gear 50.

The manual control for de-clutching the roll from the source of power is provided so that the shoe may be moved into and out of pressure conrtact with the roll while the latter is at rest to perform a pressing operation as distinguished from an ironing operation.

With the arrangement of parts here shown, it will be apparent that the shoe will remain in pressure contact with the roll only during such time as the electro-magnet which operates the clutch for controlling movement of the shoe remains energized. 'I'his is an important safeguard for the apparatus in that the operator canno'; forgetfully leave the apparatus with the shoe in contact with a non-rotating roll as is the case with the ordinary ironer, and which might result Z5 in injury to the roll or ignition of the covering thereon.

Furthermore, if the main source of electrical energy should fail for any reason whatsoever while the shoe was in contact with thev roll, the JO electro-magnet will become de-energized and the inertia of the motor and rotating parts of the apparatus will be sucient to move the shoe away from the roll. This will prevent the heated shoe from being left in contact with the roll after the parts have come to rest through the failure of the circuit.

I have here indicated a foot operated switch as being a preferable form in that it leaves the hands of the operator free during the use of the device, but other types of switches may be employed if desired.

I have also shown a particular type of electromagnet and armature, butvarious other types may be employed if desired.

In other words, I have shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of my invention, but I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of the structure shown as various changes may readily be made Without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In an ironer, a roll, means for rotating the roll, an ironer shoe adapted to be moved into and out of contact with the roll, means for operating the shoe including a clutch means comprising, a pivoted armature and means connected thereto for holding the clutch disengaged in either of two positions, of the armature, a magnet for holding the armature in a clutch-disengaging position when the shoe is in contact with the roll, and a spring for holding the armature in a clutch-disengaging position when the shoe is out of contact with the roll.

2. An ironing machine comprising an ironing roll and a co-operating ironing shoe, means for positively moving the shoe toward and from the roll comprsing a rock arm, and a rotary cam for positively moving said rock arm in reverse directions, means for rotating the cam including a constantly driven clutch element, a second clutch element secured to said cam., means for disengaging said clutch elements after each 180 degrees rotation of said cam, and means comprising electro-magnetic means for engaging said clutch elements when said magnetic means is energized, and means for engaging said clutch elements when said magnetic means is de-energized.

3. An ironing machine comprising an ironing roll, a co-operating shoe, means for moving the shoe toward and from the roll including aconstantly rotating clutch element, a second clutch element adapted for clutching engagement with the first-named element, electro-magnetically actuated means, and means for engaging said clutch elements when said electro-magnetically operated means are either energized or de-energized, and means for separating said clutch elements after each 180 degrees rotation thereof.

4. An ironing machine comprising a roll, a movable shoe, driving means for moving said shoe into and out of operative contact with said roll including a clutch, means comprising electrically controlled means for disengaging the clutch when the shoe is in contact with the roll, and means comprising separate means associated with the electrically controlled means for disengaging the clutch when the shoe is moved out of contact with the roll.

5. An ironing machine comprising a roll, a movable shoe, driving means for moving said shoe into and out of operative contact with said roll including a clutch, clutch control means and means for moving said clutch control means into a plurality of positions for disconnecting the clutch at diierent predetermined positions of the shoe. v

6. An ironing machine comprising a roll, a movable shoe, driving means for moving said shoe into and out of operative contact with said rollincluding a clutch, clutch control means, means for moving said clutch control means into a plurality of positions for disconnecting the clutch at different predetermined positions. of the shoe, said means comprising electrically controlled means for selectively moving the clutch-actuating means into one position when the shoe is in contact with the roll, and separate means associated with the clutch control means for automatically returning said control means to the normal position when released for disengaging the clutch when the shoe is out of contact with the roll.

7. An ironing machine comprising a roll, a movable shoe, driving means for moving said shoe into and out of operative contact with said roll including a clutch, a control for said clutch movable into either of two positions and having two clutch shifting elements, one element to engage the clutch-in the first position of the control to connect said driving means to move said shoe into engagement with said roll and the other element to engage said clutch in the second position of said control to connect the drive means to move said shoe out of engagement with said roll, means to normally urge said control out of said rst position and into said second position, and manually operated means to maintain said control means in said rst positionso long as said means is held operated.

8. In an ironing machine comprising a roll, a movable shoe, driving means for moving said shoe into and out of operative contact with said roll including a clutch, a pair of clutch control elements, means comprising electro-magnetic means for maintaining one of said clutch control elements in operative position, and separate means for moving the other of said clutch control elements into operative position upon failure of the electro-magnetic means.

9. In an ironing machine, a roll and a co-operating shoe, means comprising a motor for rotating the roll, means comprising a pair of co-operable clutch elements for operatively connecting said motor to the shoe to move the shoe towards and away from the roll, means normally urging said clutch elements into operative position, means for retaining' said clutch elements out of operative position when the shoe is in contact with the roll and the roll is rotating, and means for automatically moving said second-mentioned means to enable said first-mentioned means to act to engage said clutch elements to move the shoe away from the roll by the inertialcf the motor when the power fails.

10. In a'nironing machine, a roll and a cooperating shoe, means comprising a motor for rotating the roll, means comprising a pair of cooperable clutch elements for operatively connecting said motor to the shoe to move the shoe towards and away from the roll, electro-magnetic means for retaining said clutch elements in inoperative position when the shoe is in contact with the roll, and means including a spring associated with said electro-magnetic means for engaging said clutch elements automatically to move the shoe away from the roll by the inertia of said motor when the power fails.

11. In an ironing machine, a roll and a cooperating shoe, means comprising a motor for to cause engagement of said clutch elements, and means for moving said clutch control element from said position to permit automatic engagement of the clutch elements when the power fails whereby the inertia of the motor is effective to move the shoe away from the roll.

RAYMOND W. FOLEY.

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